Course Details

Course Overview

In the Acellus Introduction to Coding course, students are taught how to program using the Blockly coding language. With Blockly, everything is done with little building blocks that snap together in an intuitive way. Each block represents a small piece of code that together make an entire program. Coding with blocks allows students to focus on the fundamental principles of coding without the challenging initial learning curve required for traditional programming languages.
Students will be led through activities with incrementally more advanced building blocks. Each block is similar in structure to the syntax and style of real world programming languages. As students learn to program by snapping blocks together, they are laying a foundation for more advanced programming languages. Students will learn about conditional statements, loops, and functions.
Acellus Introduction to Coding is taught by Acellus Instructors Dr. John and by Jennifer Blank.
Announcing Acellus STEM Robotics Labs
This course was announced at the 2017 National School Boards Association annual conference. Watch the full announcement.

Sample Lesson - Dancing Robot

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This course was developed by the International Academy of Science.
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Scope and Sequence

Unit 1 - Introduction to Coding
In the first unit of the Introduction to Coding course, students are introduced to the power of coding, what programs are, how to think like a computer, hardware and software, inputs and outputs, and the historical significance of the abacus.
Unit 2 - Basics of Coding
The Basics of Coding unit delves into the concepts of a command, an algorithm, and a program. Additionally, students will learn about an event and its related cause, coding with blocks, and the historical significance of the Jacquard Loom.
Unit 3 - Command Sequencing
In the Command Sequencing unit, students are introduced to the concepts of movement blocks, an ordered sequence, sequencing, drawing blocks, debugging, and debugging simple sequences. Additionally, students will delve into turn and move forward blocks, drawing simple shapes, debugging draw sequences, and the historical significance of difference engines.
Unit 4 - Coding Methodology
In the Coding Methodology unit, students learn about the concept of program design. Specifically, students will delve into the development, planning draw sequences, and debugging program designs. Students will also learn the historical significance of analytical engine.
Unit 5 - Conditional Statements
The Conditional Statements unit introduces the conditionals, if statements, using if statements, if/else statements, stacking conditionals, and debugging conditionals. Additionally, this unit covers the historical significance of the first generation vacuum tubes and second generation transistors.
Unit 6 - Repeat Loops
In the Repeat Loops unit, students are introduced to the importance of loops, using repeat loops, drawing shapes with loops, debugging repeat loops, nesting loops, nested repeat loops, and nested repeat loops drawings, and debugging nested repeat loops. Additionally, this unit covers the historical significance of integrated circuits and microprocessors.
Unit 7 - While Loops
The While Loops unit builds on concepts from previous units by introducing while loops and delving into using while loops, nested while loops, break statements, using break blocks, break with nested loops, continue statements, using continue blocks, and debugging while loops. Additionally, this unit covers artificial intelligence.
Unit 8 - Conditional Logic
In the Conditional Logic unit, students delve into the concepts of conditional logic in coding, including the generic If block, the logical OR, the logical AND, the logical NOT, and the debugging of conditional logic. Additionally, this unit covers the historical significance of Charles Babbage, and Ada Lovelace.
Unit 9 - Logical Comparisons
The Logical Comparisons unit builds on the concepts from previous units while introducing logical comparisons, combining logical comparisons, and debugging logical comparisons. Additionally, this unit covers the historical significance of Herman Hollerith and Alan Turing.
Unit 10 - Variables
In the Variables unit, students begin with an introduction to variables and then delve into the concepts of variable blocks, using variables, and debugging variables. Additionally, this unit covers the historical significance of Grace Hopper.
Unit 11 - Functions
The Functions unit introduces function blocks, and guides students through learning concepts including using functions, drawing with functions, organizing with functions, function return value, using function return value, function parameters, using function parameters, and debugging functions. Additionally, this unit covers the historical significance of Steve Wozniak.
Unit 12 - Powered Lander Exercise
In the Powered Lander Exercise unit, students must apply all their newly acquired coding knowledge to successfully complete various Powered Landing Missions. This enables students to practice and master their coding and coding etiquette skills.
Unit 13 - Cellus BOT
The exciting Cellus Bot unit introduces the Cellus BOT to students, allowing them to apply the concepts they have previously mastered in a whole new way. Concepts covered include light sequences, talking robot, manual control, automated control, sensing orientation, dancing robot, and creative robot programs.
Unit 14 - Binary
In the Binary unit, students are introduced to binary numbers and learn the significance of binary code and binary coding, as well as the uses of binary. Additionally, this unit covers the historical significance of Tim Berners-Lee.
Unit 15 - Coding in the Real World
The Coding in the Real World unit introduces concepts including crowdsourcing, your digital footprint, encrypting code, making apps, and bad programs.